by Quinn, Taryn
I bumped Caleb. “Is that right? Are all of your fellow teachers so pretty?”
Caleb nuzzled my neck. “Nope. None as pretty as Kelsey here.”
Dare growled.
“I can’t help it if I hit on your wife, Dare. I didn’t know you were in the picture. Besides, Kel only has eyes for you. Even before you got your head out of your ass.”
“Caleb,” I said with a laugh.
“Caleb has a bit—” Kelsey seemed to have swallowed her tongue. “You know what? Never mind. We all change.”
“Oh, do we?” I looked up at Caleb, who was a spectacular shade of scarlet.
“Okay, that’s it. We’re done here.” Dare nudged Kelsey along. “See ya around, Beck.”
“So, am I going to get that story?” I asked as we started walking again.
Caleb ran his fingertip along his collar. Suddenly, he looked flushed. “Nope. No story to tell.”
“Hmm.” It was going to be an interesting day.
We followed Dare and Kelsey at a distance. They were really in a hurry to find their other kid.
I glanced up at Caleb. “How long have you been teaching?”
“Half a dozen years. Think my seventh anniversary is coming up.”
“Wow. I’ve never had a job that long in my life.”
“Really?”
“The tarot cards and podcast are my longest gig.”
“Longer doesn’t necessarily mean better.”
“Says who?” I waggled my brows. “I saw Rylee Kramer has a yoga place next to the coffee shop. I was wondering if she needs a new part-time yoga instructor. Or maybe I could do a class focused on working the stripper pole.”
A woman with a toddler shot me a look and started walking faster past us.
Caleb chuckled. “Ignore her. She thinks The Golden Girls are scandalous.”
“Blanche is my hero.”
“As well she should be,” he said with a grin.
A few other women gave me a wide berth. I tugged at my shirt. Maybe I shouldn’t have worn my celestial skirt. But it was pretty and had stars and the symbols for the zodiac.
Ugh. No, this was me. I didn’t dress to fit in anymore. I dressed for me.
Period.
I straightened my shoulders and matched my much shorter stride with Caleb’s.
“Hey, where’s the fire?” He unwound his arm from me and lagged behind.
“I’m just anxious to get—”
Dammit, that wasn’t the right way to go about this.
“Get it over with? Isn’t that my line?” He drew me to a stop. “Hey.”
I huffed out a breath. “It’s not that. Exactly. I just forgot for a minute.”
He took both of my hands and shook them out a little. “What does that mean?”
I glanced down at my baby doll T-shirt that coasted a good inch above my low slung skirt. I’d put in a matching crystal and moon dangle in my bellybutton ring. I’d even worn my belly chain again because I knew he liked it.
And because I did too. I liked feeling sexy and didn’t shy away from my particular style for anyone.
I looked around the field along the side of the school. Dozens of families dotted the green grass with large blankets set out for picnicking. Tents offered cover against the sun to protect the food and the younger children.
What blew my mind—and gave me severe flashbacks—were all the pretty sundresses in similar florals, sedate shorts here and there, and khakis as far as the eye could see. Even the man right in front of me was wearing the corporate beige.
He had on perfectly pressed khaki shorts with bright white sneakers and a golf shirt. He fit in with all of the people here.
Me? Not so much.
“I’m me, Caleb,” I said softly.
He smiled. “I’m well aware of that. In fact, that’s exactly why I like being around you. You’re so very uniquely you.”
I looked down at my daisy sandals. I hated feeling off-balance. I’d worked hard to ensure I stayed centered and never forgot who I was.
Never again.
He dropped the cooler next to us and slipped an arm around my back. “There’s a reason why I’ve never brought someone to one of these school functions.”
I met his gaze. “Because you’re an eternal bachelor?”
He dropped a kiss on my frowning lips. “No. Well, I have been. Mostly because seeing everyone pair off in the Cove pretty much equals baby in three seconds.”
I curled my fingers into his shirt. Babies weren’t something I thought of every minute of the day, but I’d always figured it would happen someday, if it was meant to. “Babies are pretty much the thing in a small town. That’s why people live here.”
“Yeah. And I get it. Rhiannon is the love of my life.”
I tried to shove down the ball of heat in my belly. Seeing him with his niece in his classroom the other day had been a whole new experience.
“I like what we have going on right now.”
“Me too.” I smiled. “I didn’t mean to get heavy. I just…”
This whole scene reminded me of a different life. One that I didn’t ever want to go back to.
I went up on my toes. The sun was shining, and I had a hot guy I liked to spend time with. That was what mattered.
“I just felt out of place,” I admitted.
He glanced around, then he slid down his hand to cup my ass. “You’re with me. That’s the only place that matters. Besides, all the Target summer wardrobe action is mostly because people here are afraid of Sister Tobias.”
“Well, she is a little scary.”
“A lot scary. Besides, I like these skirts you wear sometimes. Gives me easy access.”
“Says the man worried about a nun on the premises.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t want to get under these things every chance I can.” He kissed me again. This time, the kiss was softer and longer. “I’m the luckiest man here. You’ll make every husband, dad, and priest think impure thoughts.”
“Priest, huh?” I raised my hands to his shoulders. “Would they splash holy water on a witch in their midst?”
“Witch?”
My eyes widened at the voice a few feet away. Oh, shit.
Caleb glanced down at the kid, who had to be around seven years old. “She’s kidding, Charlie.”
I stiffened.
Absently, Caleb drew circles over my lower back. “Where’s your mom?”
The little boy pointed toward the big tent.
“Think your mom would be happy you ran off?”
The boy wiped his nose, then he swiped it on his pants. “I want to hear more about the witch.”
I stepped back from Caleb and crouched so I was at the kid’s height. “It’s just a different religion. No scarier than yours.” I tugged on the little boy’s ear. “I just believe in the trees and the earth and giving back as much as I take from the universe.”
“God made the universe.” But his face was very uncertain.
Minefield alert.
“Everyone’s idea of God is different.”
“Like my friend Anna who’s Jewish?”
Well, that was easier than explaining my religion. “Exactly. Being different is far more interesting, wouldn’t you say?”
“Sure.” He gave me a gap-toothed smile. “Bye.”
And then he was off.
I glanced up at Caleb. I couldn’t read exactly what was going on with him, but we were saved by the bell.
Or airhorn.
“Attention teachers, make sure you check in at the blue tent.”
“Guess that’s my cue.” He held out his hand to me.
I let him help me up, and we crossed the field to the dark blue tent. Evidently, there were going to be some games for the kids and every teacher had to donate half an hour.
Caleb got to handle the lawn bowling. He rolled his eyes when he was handed a small disk that looked like something you would get from a restaurant when your table was ready.
“When this buzzes,
report to the east lawn, Mr. Beck.”
“Yes, Sister Linda.”
I couldn’t tell what was going on with her, but she wouldn’t look at me. And she was wearing sunglasses so I definitely couldn’t read her. Sister Linda’s aura was even on lockdown. She had pretty impressive shields.
Caleb tucked the disk into his pocket and took my hand.
“Do you need a drink or anything, Sister?” I asked.
“I’m fine, thank you.” She laced her fingers together on top of her notebook. “Run along. Mr. London, I see you over there. Come here and sign up for your time slot.”
I glanced over my shoulder. “Hey, Mike.”
Caleb threw an arm around my neck, drawing me closer. “London.”
Mike grinned widely. “Miss Hastings, you look ethereal. Dump this chump and come away with me. I’ll treat you like a queen.”
I was close enough to Caleb’s chest to hear the feral growl.
“Back off, London.”
I pinched Caleb’s side before he strangled me. “Glad to see a familiar face.”
“I’ll save you a seat at my picnic table.” Mike patted Caleb on the arm. “I’ll even let you sit with us.”
I dragged Caleb away with a laugh. For someone who wasn’t into labels, he sure didn’t like any other males flitting around me. And for that matter, I wasn’t overly excited about how a few of the women leered at his bite-worthy butt.
He made a few introductions as we walked past the various tents. We dropped off our offering to the food gods and got a couple of frosty bottles of flavored water. There were no adult beverages at this particular shindig.
I had a feeling if Lucky had joined us, he would’ve smuggled in some and been a hit. Especially considering most of the dads looked bored as hell.
We spent the next hour chitchatting with Kelsey and Dare and a sweet younger teacher named Sister Sarah.
Most people were nice enough. Some gave me a good deal of side-eye, but I thought that was more for the belly ring than the skirt.
Caleb came up behind me and kissed the nape of my neck. “Want to go for a little walk? I’ve got an hour before I have to referee ten-year-olds.”
I tossed my bottle into the recycler. These people were no joke when it came to organizing. All the bottles would be returned for money that went into the playground fund.
They had raffle tickets at every table. I could only imagine what they did at actual student events. This was just teachers and their own families before school even started.
Caleb linked his fingers with mine. “You’ve been quiet.”
I shrugged. “This place is very impressive.”
He tipped his head. “It’s just a school. They’re good kids. Some of them are certainly in the entitled set, but for the most part, these are just families who want their kids to get the best education possible.”
“I bet the tuition here is more than a state college.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Probably. But we have lots of scholarships for people with lower incomes who really want their kids to go here.”
“I’m sure.”
“I didn’t take you for an anti-establishment type.”
“No? The witch? Really?”
He laughed. “Yeah, but you don’t really talk about it.”
“We don’t do a lot of talking.” I bumped him with my hip.
He twirled me out and back in. “We usually have more important things to do with our lips.”
I let him draw me in for a light kiss. We were a bit away from the action, on a path that meandered around the school grounds. Benches with name plates were stationed between each large oak tree.
Would the trees have plaques too?
Planted by The Carters in 1942.
“It’s a beautiful campus.”
“Yeah. The grounds are super manicured right now, as they always are this time of year. Have to tidy up before the families come to see what they pay for. Next week, we have our meet the teacher nights.”
I skipped out of his sphere, the light summer breeze lifting my skirt around my knees. “I bet all the moms love you.” I walked backwards. “‘Mr. Beck, I think my daughter needs extra tutoring.’”
His lips slid into a half smile. “I don’t mess around with parents.”
“No? Just the teachers? Scandalizing the nuns with your wicked smile and those delicious shoulders.”
“Are you objectifying me?”
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
“I can’t say a few moms haven’t flirted, but I definitely don’t go there.”
“Even the single moms?”
“Especially the single moms. They’re on the hunt hardcore here. They’ve heard about the mystical properties of Crescent Cove and want to expand their families. As well as get a ring on that finger.” He flashed his left ring finger.
“You really think they’re that…” I trailed off, unsure what to call it. “Deceptive doesn’t feel like a nice word.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Some women have one thing in mind.”
“Not all women.” I tugged him closer by the pocket of his shorts.
“No. And that’s why I love spending time with you. You enjoy the no strings thing too.”
My chest twinged. “As long as my bed is the only one you’re in.”
“Forever?” His eyebrow went up as he caught me closer.
“For right now.” Though the idea of forever didn’t seem quite as scary when we were alone.
I curled my arms around his neck and swayed against him. Sunshine and the scent of fresh cut grass surrounded us.
A few bees bounced from bloom to bloom on the hearty mums planted along the path. The light laughter of kids in the field doing some sort of relay race drifted down to us.
A quick buzzing went off between us. Caleb jumped and I laughed.
I stuck my hand in his pocket. “Think we could bring that home with us?”
“I think we can find something a little more interesting.”
“Guess we might have to check out that bonus drawer I have,” I said over my shoulder as I took off toward the tents.
“Wait. What bonus drawer?” he called after me.
I turned with a smile. “Maybe you’ll find out tonight.”
He caught up with me and lifted me up. “You better believe it.”
“Mr. Beck! Over here, please! Please put Miss Hastings down.” Sister Tobias waved him over.
“Busted,” I said, trying not to laugh.
“I don’t want to put you down though.” Caleb’s strong arms kept me hooked against his hip.
A man with curly dark blond hair stood next to Sister Tobias. He turned quickly and my heart stuttered to a stop.
“Caleb.” I gripped his arm.
“Maybe you can help me referee. They’ll probably be too interested in seeing a pretty girl to try to knock down the pins.”
No. No, this was not happening.
Not here. Not now.
“Lu?” Caleb frowned at me. “What’s wrong?”
“Crap.” I turned around, but there was no way to escape.
“What?”
“You gotta go do the thing.” I headed over to the food tent and wished it was full of alcohol. All of the booze. Maybe a lake of it for good measure.
“Luna,” Caleb called after me with an exasperated grunt as he chased me up the hill.
“Luna, is that you?”
My shoulders hunched at the sound of his voice. One I hadn’t heard in years. “Shit. Shit.” I spun around to face him with one hand on my hip. With the other, I pushed my windblown curls out of my eyes. “Hey. How’s it going?”
“How’s it going? That’s all you’re going to say after three years?”
God, his eyes were still the same. Squinty and so blue.
Blue like my own.
I tipped my head back to stare at him straight on. “How’s tricks, Xavier? Is that better?”
“Luna?”
Caleb
from the back and my past standing there big as life from the front. I had nowhere to go. I was tempted to bend at the waist and just breathe from between my knees, but that would show weakness. And I was definitely not showing weakness in front of my brother.
“Who’s this guy?” Caleb’s hand went to my lower back. The heat of his skin made my skin sing.
“Mr. Beck!” Sister Tobias called again.
“Just a moment, Sister.” Caleb’s voice carried. But Sister Tobias was not happy in the least. She went off in a huff.
“Go, Caleb. I can handle this.”
“Handle this?” Xavier’s eyebrow spiked and he shook his head. “Some things never change.” He held out his hand to Caleb. “Nice to meet you. I’m Xavier.”
When Caleb didn’t reach for his hand, I sighed.
“Caleb—”
“Xavier Hastings,” my brother said tightly. As if that would mean anything to Caleb, for fuck’s sake.
“Hastings?” Caleb turned me to face him. “Who is this guy?”
The accusation in his eyes made my hands fist. Of course he immediately thought the wrong thing. Because that was just what I needed on top of it all. “He’s my brother, Caleb.”
“Brother?” His shoulders relaxed. “Oh.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Sorry, man. I had no idea she had a brother.”
“I’m sure you didn’t.” Xavier dipped his hands in the pockets of his Ralph Lauren pants. His beloved Bulgari watch peeked from the nearly white fabric. His hair was longer than the last time I’d seen him. The curls floated in the breeze in that carefree way that only a four-hundred-dollar haircut could.
Everything about my brother screamed wealth and prestige. He was the perfect Hastings heir, unlike me.
He unhooked his sunglasses from the pocket of his shirt and set them over his eyes. As usual, I couldn’t read my brother. It had been that way since…
Well, for a damn long time. And I didn’t really want to rehash how long it had been since I’d seen him. Or anyone in my family, for that matter.
“Caleb needs to get—”
“I’m sure they can get along without me.” Caleb spread his hand along the small of my back. “Hastings. I don’t think I saw a teacher with that name on the roster.”
Xavier laughed. “Definitely not. I don’t mold young minds in any way.”
“No, just ruined them,” I muttered.
My brother stiffened. “Come on, Lu. That’s not fair.”
